COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

                                               

 

DATE:

 

May 5, 2003

 

 

SUBJECT:  Final Reading of Ordinance # 2003 – O - 095

Authorizing the approval of overweight penalty fees to be considered as part of the International Bridges toll receipts and follow the flow of funds as described in Resolution # 98-R-164 and hereby repealing all conflicting sections in all ordinances currently in effect.

 

 

INITIATED BY:

Larry Dovalina, City Manager

 

STAFF SOURCE:

Rafael Garcia, Jr., Bridge System Director

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:  

 

On April 7, 2003, City Council approved for staff to proceed with the Final Reading of Ordinance

# 2003 – O – 095.

 

On December 4, 2000 council approved the decrease of maximum commercial weight allowed to cross our International Bridges, without a permit, from 84,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. and set a penalty fee for all Southbound over weights that arrived at our International Bridges, without a permit.  These additional overweight fees were appropriated for servicing the Bridge Fund Long Term Outstanding Debt and for the Capital Improvements Fund to fund various projects city wide

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Council at the December 4, 2000 council meeting, approved an overweight penalty fee for all overweight South bound commercial traffic showing up at our International Bridges without the necessary permits.  This penalty fee was designated for the servicing of the Bridge Fund Long Term Outstanding Debt and for the Capital Improvements Fund to fund various projects city wide.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

None

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:

N/A                   

 

 

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

 

Approval of Ordinance # 2003 – O – 095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE 2003-O-95

 

DECREASING THE MAXIMUM COMMERCIAL WEIGHT ALLOWED TO CROSS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES OF THE CITY OF LAREDO, WITHOUT A PERMIT, FROM 84,000 LBS TO 80,000 LBS AND INCREASING THE BRIDGE TOLL RATE SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH BOUND COMMERCIAL OVER WEIGHTS (ANYTHING OVER 80,000 LBS) AND REDEFINING THE DIFFERENT OVER WEIGHT CATEGORIES, AND IMPLEMENTING A PENALTY FEE FOR SOUTH BOUND OVER WEIGHTS WHO ARRIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES OF THE CITY OF LAREDO, WITHOUT A PERMIT  AND HEREBY REPEALING ALL CONFLICTING SECTIONS IN ALL ORDINANCES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.

 

Authorizing the approval of overweight penalty fees to be considered as part of the International Bridges toll receipts and follow the flow of funds as described in Resolution # 98-r-164 and hereby repealing all conflicting sections in all ordinances currently in effect.

 

WHEREAS, the City Council, after a public hearing held December 4, 2000 in compliance with Section 6.10 (B) of the City Charter on the issue of increasing tolls charged for crossing Laredo International Bridges, and in compliance with Ordinance 96-0-180, has determined that it is in the public’s interest to increase such bridge tolls, and that the revised tolls are fair, reasonable, and equitable in all respects and should be approved; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Transportation and Safety Committee of the City of Laredo has been advised that such bridge tolls charged for commercial over weight traffic crossing Laredo International Bridges are recommended to be revised in accordance with the schedule presented at the public hearing described above; and

 

            WHEREAS, the approval of these rates will be appropriated for servicing the Bridge Fund Long Term Outstanding Debt and for the Capital Improvements Fund to fund various projects city wide; and

 

            WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary and appropriate to review and adjust the toll rates for commercial overweight traffic at the International Bridges; and

 

            WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to reduce the maximum over weight limit of commercial traffic crossing our International Bridges (without a permit) to 80,000 lbs; and

 

            WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to apply a penalty fee to all over weight commercial traffic which arrives at our International Bridges, without a permit; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing and introductory ordinance was held on December 4, 2000.

                   

WHEREAS, the overweight penalty fees will be considered as part of the International Bridges toll receipts and follow the flow of funds as described in Resolution # 98-R-164; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing and introductory ordinance was held on April 7, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO:

   

Section 1: That the City Council hereby establishes the maximum commercial weight allowed to cross International Bridges of the City of Laredo, without a permit, to be 80,000 lbs.

 

Section 2: That the City Council hereby redefines the different over weight categories as per Exhibit “B”.

 

Section 3:  That the City Council hereby establishes a penalty fee for South bound commercial over weights (anything over 80,000 lbs) who arrive at International Bridges of the City of Laredo, without a permit as per Exhibit “B”.

                        

Section 4: That the City Council hereby establishes the rates to be charged for pedestrian, non-commercial, commercial and commercial overweight traffic (with and without a permit) to cross International Bridges of the City of Laredo to be as follows:

                    

LAREDO INTERNATIONAL TOLL BRIDGES

TOLL SCHEDULE –SOUTH BOUND ONLY

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 5, 2001

 

  1. 1.     Pedestrians……………………………………………………..$0.50

     (Children under 6 years of age)…………………………………..Free

     (Bicycle and rider)………………………………..………………. .$0.50

2.     Non-commercial vehicles (with or without cargo)

            All non-commercial vehicles…………………………..$1.00@ Axle

             (Emergency vehicles… Fire engine, ambulance, police

          car, etc. answering or returning from emergency call…..……….Free

3.     Commercial Vehicles

All commercial vehicles………………………………..$2.75@ Axle

4.     Over weights (with permit)

 80,001 lbs -  100,000 lbs…….……………………………….$50.00

100,001 lbs – 120,000 lbs……………………………………..$75.00

120,001 lbs – 140,000 lbs……………………………………$100.00

140,001 lbs – 160,000 lbs……………………………….…...$125.00

160,001 lbs – 180,000 lbs……………………………….…...$150.00

180,001 lbs – Over……………………………………….…..$175.00

5.     Over weights (Without Permit)

80,001 lbs – 100,000 lbs…………..…$50.00 + $500.00 Penalty Fee

100,001 lbs – 120,000 lbs……………$75.00 + $500.00 Penalty Fee

120,001 lbs – 140,000 lbs………..…$100.00 + $500.00 Penalty Fee

140,001 lbs – 160,000 lbs…………..$125.00 + $500.00 Penalty Fee

160,001 lbs – 180,000 lbs………..…$150.00 + $500.00 Penalty Fee

 

 All commercial vehicles over 80,000 lbs. must obtain a permit from the Traffic Department of the City of Laredo prior to crossing any Bridge designated by the City of Laredo as a Commercial International Bridge (Colombia Solidarity or World Trade).  Failure to obtain this permit will result an additional $500.00 penalty fee at time of crossing.

 

Section 5:  That the City of Laredo hereby authorizes that overweight penalty fees be considered as part of the International Bridges toll receipts and follow the flow of funds as described in Resolution #98-R-164 where 50% of toll receipts go to General Fund and the remaining 50% will remain with the Bridge.

 

 

 

 

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall be, and hereby are, repealed.

 

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS __21st____ DAY OF APRIL, 2003.

 

 

                                                                      

                                                                             __________________

                                                                                Elizabeth G. Flores

                                                                                Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

________________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

 

 

_______________________

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

JAIME L. FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY